I met a man
              a Soldier in fact
& his thumb still has me considering many things_
I had just finished a site inspection
Preparing to turn left to the next
When my attention was captured
By a lone Soldier on Post
    with his thumb out_
“Interesting.”, I said out loud to myself
“Now he has to be aware if the MPs come by I see him thumbing he will be a deep guano.”
Still, despite the numerous negative possibilities of offering a ‘thumber’ a ride
I did pull over_
as the window was laboured down
    (It’s a 92 ford AeroStar_a very tired one)
He said, “I don’t want a ride Ma’am. I was just seeing how many would stop & you’re # 20.”
With that we both said bye_
As I went about my Nite I continued to think of him rather than his thumb.

Now, was he an MP seeing how many would stop for a soldier?
Was he some newspaper reporter for the Post paper doing research on human compassion or stupidness?

Maybe he was just him wanting to see if there was anyone who cares in the world after all he has seen.

Who ever that young man is, I Thank him for his thumb. For giving me much to consider about myself, others and the World.

Would I be willing to try the same thing? I doubt it, but then, if I see him again, I will pull over again but this time I will get out and shake his hand and thank him properly. For all his has given as a Soldier, and for giving me, and I suspect #s 1-19 and those after me, much to think about.